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Obsession with Gaming and Computers - 9 year old

KathS

Hello all

We have a 9 year old boy, funny and bright, however hes becoming more and more reluctant to do anything other than go on his computer / intenet / play station etc. We have tried to limit its use, however, he simply isnt interested in anything else for longer than say half hour and he's an only child so has no siblings to play with.

My worry is that is he will become withdrawn from normaility and his ability to communicate and interact with others will lessen.

He's up at 7am and on a weekend would quite happily sit in front of a screen till bed at 7pm.

I know that this also is not good for his eyes and as he wears headphones, is bad for his ears. My partner (who is his bilogical dad, I am not his birth mum), is frustrated too, and says 'what am I meant to do with him?' when I state that we have to get him off the computer. I dont know what the answer is as he doesnt want to join school clubs (eg football or rugby or cubs), he just wants to play on his computer.

Obviously there is a lot of fuss and tantrums when he do make him come away.

This is just one 'challenge' , he's not doing so well at his mainstream school, his learning falling behind and his teachers telling us they dont know what to do with him, although he has SEN funding. But thats another problem for another post.

Any ideas please?

Thanks

Kathryn

Parents

  • Hi, I think many autistic people like being on their pc. I bet he adores his computer Smile.  He'll get a great deal of enjoyment, satisfaction etc out of it.  My son loves his computer + was distraught when his internet connection caused problems.  Therefore I think you need to tread v carefully here.  He is different from you + his dad.  Please don't presume you know what's best for him by relating to him as you would to a neurotypical child.  I don't mean that to sound overly personal, it's just it's so easily done.   I've done it myself sometimes.  Trying to get him to join clubs might be far too stressful with his autism.  What else does he enjoy doing?  I'm not advocating he stays on his computer for hours + hours but you do need to find something that he actually enjoys or you'll have distress + meltdowns daily.  Forcing him will guarantee that.  As for school, please do your post.  School can be terribly stressful for our children + he may be suffering a great deal there.  To come home + retreat into a virtual world may well keep him from cracking up. 

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  • Hi, I think many autistic people like being on their pc. I bet he adores his computer Smile.  He'll get a great deal of enjoyment, satisfaction etc out of it.  My son loves his computer + was distraught when his internet connection caused problems.  Therefore I think you need to tread v carefully here.  He is different from you + his dad.  Please don't presume you know what's best for him by relating to him as you would to a neurotypical child.  I don't mean that to sound overly personal, it's just it's so easily done.   I've done it myself sometimes.  Trying to get him to join clubs might be far too stressful with his autism.  What else does he enjoy doing?  I'm not advocating he stays on his computer for hours + hours but you do need to find something that he actually enjoys or you'll have distress + meltdowns daily.  Forcing him will guarantee that.  As for school, please do your post.  School can be terribly stressful for our children + he may be suffering a great deal there.  To come home + retreat into a virtual world may well keep him from cracking up. 

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